First drive: the cheapest Jaguar

David McCowen

Jaguar is hoping help from an unlikely quarter can give it the edge as it tries to tempt buyers away from its German luxury rivals.

The latest addition to the XF range has the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the Ford Falcon EcoBoost.

The Ford-sourced engine comes with an attractive price tag of just $68,900 (plus on-road costs) which makes the BMW 5-Series competitor more than $9000 cheaper than its nearest German rival.

The big cat has also set its sights on smaller prey for 2013, with the XF 2.0 undercutting more expensive versions of smaller luxury sedans including the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

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But it is still $22,000 more expensive that Ford’s most luxurious EcoBoost Falcon, the G6E.

The turbocharged 2.0-litre EcoBoost engine is no bad thing; a lightweight and fuel-efficient powerplant that kicks out 177kW of power and 340Nm of torque as fitted to the Jaguar.

There are very few mechanical differences between the Jaguar and Ford engines, with most changes coming down to electronic calibration between the engines and their transmissions.

Ford’s version has 13Nm and 2kW more than the Jaguar and is more fuel efficient (8.5 litres per 100km to 8.9L/100km), despite the Jaguar having an 8-speed gearbox compared with the Ford’s six-speed auto.

The engine is, however, a big improvement on the outgoing Jaguar V6. It is four-tenths faster to 100km/h, uses 15 per cent less fuel and is $20,500 cheaper.

The eight-speed transmission seems to have a gear for every situation and for the most part does not need help finding the right ratio, though it can be reluctant to drop into lower gears.

Keen drivers can take control with shift paddles mounted on steering wheel, while a sport mode also makes better use of the engine’s flexibility.

Jaguar launched the new XF in poor weather and on winding roads that tested the car’s composure. The sedan took it all in its stride, effortlessly absorbing imperfections and maintaining momentum without a fuss.

As the cheapest Jaguar currently on sale, the XF 2.0 misses out on some of the features fitted to its stable mates.

Stop-start fuel-saving technology, adaptive suspension and sophisticated automatic air-conditioning systems are only available on more expensive models.

Mark Eedle, brand manager for Jaguar Land Rover Australia, says the fact that the car is two cylinders short of its predecessor doesn't mean it's a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic.

“Don’t look at the size of the engine,” he says.

“This is our new normally aspirated six.... All manufacturers are heading down the path of efficiency.”

The new four-cylinder engine is part of a mid-life overhaul of XF with new engines for most petrol models.

The range-topping XFR remains unchanged, but the 283kW, 5.0 V8 model has been replaced by a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 pumping out 250kW in a move that sacrifices performance for fuel economy.

Jaguar expects the XF to lead a 30 per cent sales increase for the brand in 2013.

The XF has proved more popular with Australian buyers than the Audi A6 and Lexus GS so far this year, though it has been outsold by the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series.

Eedle says the brand’s perception among buyers was holding it back from further success.

“I feel like people hold a candle for us,” Mr Eedle says.

“One of our big challenges is to make people realise that we are relevant to you today.

“They’re aware of the brand but they’re not aware of our current models, [they say] ‘I know what a Jaguar is, it’s the 1986 thing my father had’, that’s the challenge to us.”

He says halo cars such as the upcoming F-Type roadster and 405kW XFR-S sedan “will help bring the brand back” in 2013.

The XFR-S will cost more than $200,000 and be built to order, so don’t expect to see the big cat loitering in showrooms.

Just one XFR-S has been confirmed for Australian delivery, a car owned by Jaguar which will be used to promote the brand’s sedans.